Week 15 waiver wire

Tony Fortier-Bensen

Tight ends like Trey Burton made a lot of noise this week, but RBs and WRs like Theo Riddick, Rod Smith, Mike Davis, Peyton Barber, Kendall Wright and Dede Westbrook, are still filling up the majority of our Week 15 waiver wire report.

Week 15 D/ST rankings

Matt Lutovsky

The top of our Week 15 fantasy defense rankings features the usual suspects, but the bottom half of the "starting tier" is made up of potential waiver wire pickups. Check out the full list ahead of your fantasy football playoff start 'em, sit 'em decisions.

Week 15 RB rankings

Player Updates

Ian Kinsler (Det-2B)

Contrary to a previous report, a deal to send Kinsler to the Angels has not yet been completed, Buster Olney of ESPN reports.

It's unclear what's holding the deal up at this point, but Jon Heyman of FanRagSports.com reports there's still a good amount of optimism that Kinsler will eventually be dealt to the Angels. -- Rotowire.com

Jimmy Graham (Sea-TE)

Graham typically doesn't practice to kick off any given week, but only the seriously-injured Seahawks were non-participants Wednesday. There's a chance he'll be held out of a true practice, if one is held Thursday or Friday. If he emerges from Week 15 prep with a designation, he's nonetheless been good to go once game day rolls around this season. -- Rotowire.com

Nicolas Batum (-F)

Batum (elbow) will start at shooting guard for Wednesday's matchup with the Rockets, Tim MacMahon of ESPN reports.

Batum was held out of Monday's contest with some lingering elbow soreness, but will rejoin the lineup Wednesday and take on his normal starter's role. The Hornets aren't reporting any restrictions, so as long as Batum doesn't suffer any in-game setbacks, he should be good for a full workload. -- Rotowire.com

Marcus Mariota (Ten-QB)

Mariota (knee) was a full participant at Wednesday's practice, but his hamstring ailment from earlier this season is still having an impact, and his fibula fracture from last year may require a clean-up procedure at the end of the campaign, according to freelance NFL reporter Paul Kuharsky.

Mariota finds himself on the injury report for Week 15 in San Francisco with a minor injury in the same left knee that he's worn a brace on ever since suffered a second MCL injury in 2015 (the first occurred in 2013 at Oregon). While it doesn't seem that any of these lingering leg injuries poses a threat to his availability, they might help to explain why Mariota has taken a clear step back in his third professional season. -- Rotowire.com